Understanding Google My Business & Local Search
Entries Written By Mike Blumenthal
Google Testing Location Answer Box
Pete Meyers of Moz just pointed out an unusual new feature that Google is testing: Location Answer Box. Darren Shaw noted that it was visible via Firefox. I see it regardless of whether location is set or whether I am logged in, if the query is specific enough to generate a single answer. IE Dress …
Fake Reviews – Everyone is doing it, so it must be legal
I absolutely loved this thread at blackhatworld. The original poster asked: Hi, Does anybody know if it is illegal to sell fake online reviews? I have heard about companies getting fined for posting / buying fake reviews, but can the seller actually get in trouble? If so then why does Fiverr allow you to post …
Google Local Carousel Now Visible in Japan
The (not very well liked) Local Carousel is now visible in Japan on Google.com although not yet on Google.co.jp/. Kenichi Suzuki, a popular Japanese blogger interested in local search, reports that while he is not sure when it started showing, it is now showing. Since being rolled out last June they have only been visible …
Reviews, SMBs & Google – Still Not Clear on the Concept
This story is so rich in the evolving complexity of reviews; the absurdly angry SMB, the frustrated poster and so rich a tale of service gone awry. A story of how decent service can become indecent service by the sort of reflexive behavior that is so common in the service industry. To say nothing of …
Local U & Friends Invite You to the New Local U Forums
Last week was a busy and exciting week for Local U. It has been our long term dream to provide high quality local marketing training and advise on-line. On Thursday we rolled out the Local University Forums. The Forums will be place where marketers, digital agencies and businesses large and small can get expert answers, …
What’s Old is New Again – Spam in the Google Local Results
Yesterday I reported on hijackings in local. Since August there have been significant quality issues. But the spam… its like 2008 all over again for Google local. I hate looking at spam. It makes me feel dirty. But since Hummingbird that seems to be all that I see these days in local. Lots and lots …
Google Bulk Upload: Verified Listings Or Just Another Data Feed?
Does a Google Bulk upload create a verified listing or is it in reality just another data feed? Unfortunately it is the latter. Danny Sullivan and Greg Sterling have been covering the recent multi listing hijacking of hotel pages at Google. The hijackers essentially were able to take control of numerous hotel listings and insert …
Google and Apple Consolidate Positions in Driving Directions During 2013
The driving directions market, while more fragmented than search or social, is continuing to see consolidation. Google maintained their leading share and Apple gained share while the GPS and other web providers are seeing steady and large declines in usage. Over the past year, I have continued to survey consumers as to their preferred choice …
Google Local Carousels MIA – Are they gone for good?
Are Local Carousels on their way out? They are gone today in my browsers. (Note others are not seeing any reduction in carousels). Which raises another question: Is this part of a larger plan to clean up the look of search results page in general and local search in particular? Several weeks ago rumors started …
The Best Advanced Local Search Conference EVER
Ok. So I am a little biased. But that being said, last year’s spring Local U Advanced was one of the most educational and fun events that I have ever participated in and we are bringing it back east. There was more of everything that I love about our industry: more great local content, more …
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